Visa Renewal Policy

Visa Renewal By Mail

Applicants wanting to renew visas issued June 15, 2007 or later by Consulate General Auckland may be able to apply for new visas without coming to the Consulate for an interview.

The key to using this program is that the applicant must be applying for the same visa class they previously held (i.e. B1/B2, F1, J1, P1, L1, O1, H2B, H2A, etc.).

Also, applicants must have given the full ten-finger biometric data at their last interview, as opposed to the two index finger prints that were collected before June of 2007.  The U.S. Consulate in Auckland started collecting 10-prints on June 15, 2007.

If you do not meet all the eligibility requirements below, then the process for renewing your visa is the same as for a first time visa applicant.

To take advantage of this program and avoid a trip to the Consulate an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

1. is renewing a visa in the same visa class as the previously held visa;
    
2. normally resides in the Auckland consular district (New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau);
    
3. has not been previously refused a visa, unless that refusal was later overcome or waived;
    
4. the previous visa expired within the last 12 months; (In other words, the visa's expiration date must fall within the last 12 months of the date the applicant submits the application.  For example, an applicant whose last H visa expired August 1, 2007 must apply for this year's visa no later than July 31, 2008);
    
5. can submit the passport containing the previous visa (i.e., the passport containing the previous visa was not lost or stolen);
    
6. has not:
   • been convicted of a crime since your last visa interview (even if the Clean Slate Act applies.  If you failed to disclose your arrest or conviction history at your previous interview, you may not renew by mail and must make an appointment by calling 0900 87 847,)
   • ever overstayed any other visa in the U.S.,
   • been told by a U.S. government official that he/she is ineligible for a visa.

To forego the visa interview, applicants must be willing to surrender their passports for 5 business days expected processing time.  We do not have the resources to find and return passports early, so those who cannot give up their passport for required time to process by mail should come for an interview.

We reserve the right to call any applicant in for an interview, including those:

• who do not meet the above criteria;
• who check "yes" to any part of question 38 on the DS-156;
• who require additional administrative processing;
• about whom the adjudicating consular officer has other concerns.

 

The Process

To make this work efficiently, please ensure that your paperwork is submitted fully and correctly the first time.

1. Please pay all appropriate MRV application fees at your local post shop before sending your application to the Consulate.  You must submit your receipt with your application.
2. Each applicant's documents must be submitted in the following order:
• Passport
  
• DS 156 (Applications must be filled out completely and signed.  Please be sure to provide complete contact information, including email address, so we can follow up with you on any questions.)
  
• One recent passport sized photo
  
• DS 157 (for males between the age of 16 – 45 years)
  
• DS 158 (for all F, J and M class visas)
  
• MRV application fee receipt
  
• I-797 Notice of Action, if applicable to your visa class (original or a legible photocopy is fine)
  
• Letter of employment for work visas
  
• Any old passports with previous US visas
  
• Other supporting documents
  
• Pre-paid and self-addressed courier envelope for use in returning passport, visa and other documents  (please note that we may not return all your supporting documents, so please do not send important originals that you would not want to lose.)
  

All documents should be sent to:

Consulate General of the United States of America
Non Immigrant Visa Section
Private Bag 92022
Auckland, New Zealand

To find the DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158 forms, please see:  http://newzealand.usembassy.gov/forms.html

If you still have any questions, please contact the U.S. Visa Information Service at 0900 US VISA (0900 878 472).